Nonviolent jihad: an immanent critique

In pursuit of radical democracy, against the juggernaut of modern liberalism, this thesis attempts an unusual resuscitation of an Islamic nonviolence by engaging in bridge-building and mutual translation between the principled nonviolence of Mahatma Gandhi and the so-called political Islam of Sayyid Qutb. By means of the method of immanent critique, this thesis employs the anthropological skepticism of Talal Asad to critique the secularist notions of agency employed by these seminal and polarizing figures, revealing the centrality of lack to both ideologies. It otherwise self-consciously adopts the essentialisms used by and against these ideologies to attempt to lay the groundwork for an edifice with maximum rhetorical appeal

Electric-field-induced volume change and room temperature phase stability of (Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3-x mol. % BaTiO3 piezoceramics

Phase stability of (1 - x) (Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO 3-x BaTiO3 (0 ??? x ??? 0.15) under electric field was investigated by measuring volume changes during a bipolar poling cycle. The unique nature of field-dependent phase stability with three distinctive regions is revealed by comparative studies using commercial soft PZT and relaxor PLZT. For x ??? 0.06 and x 0.13, similarly with PZT and PLZT, the axial strain expands with the contracting radial strain, but the former results in a remanent volume demonstrating an electric-field-induced phase transition. For 0.08 ??? x ??? 0.12, this field-induced phase transition is distinguished by negligible radial contractions implying polarization rotation. A "poling-induced" morphotropic phase boundary forms at x = 0.07.open433

Implementation of a raw water collection system for the supply of a popular house in Brusque - SC

Tendo em vista que a água é um recurso natural imprescindível à vida, questões sobre a conservação e preservação dos recursos hídricos vêm sendo cada vez mais destacadas na atualidade. O objetivo geral é implantar um sistema de captação de água da chuva para uma casa popular em Brusque - SC. A pesquisa teve uma abordagem quali-quantitativa, método exploratório e descritivo e tipo de pesquisa bibliográfica e experimental. Na pesquisa experimental, fez-se um estudo comparativo, onde foram calculados cinco tipos de reservatórios a fim de verificar as suas características. Através da pesquisa, foi definido que para a implantação do sistema, o reservatório possui um tamanho usual, a captação será feita pelo telhado e o escoamento pela calha, com filtragem simples e destinação não potável. Por fim, fizeram-se recomendações para o melhoramento da captação e racionalização da água pluvial, além de estudos ainda necessários para o aperfeiçoamento deste tipo de sistema.Considering that water is a indispensable natural resource for life, questions about the conservation and preservation of water resources are becoming more prominent today. The general objective is to implement a rainwater harvesting system for a popular house in Brusque - SC. The research had a qualitative-quantitative approach, exploratory and descriptive method and type of bibliographic and experimental research. In the experimental research, a comparative study was carried out, in which five types of reservoirs were calculated in order to verify their characteristics. Through the research, it was defined that for the implantation of the system, the reservoir has a usual size, the capture will be done by the roof and the flow through the trough, with simple filtration and non-potable disposal. Finally, recommendations were made for the improvement of the abstraction and rationalization of rainwater, besides studies still necessary for the improvement of this type of system

Analysis of the economic feasibility of implementing a photovoltaic energy system in block D of the Centro Universitário de Brusque - UNIFEBE

Este trabalho tem como objetivo geral analisar a viabilidade econômica de implantação de um sistema de energia fotovoltaica para o bloco D do Centro Universitário de Brusque - UNIFEBE. A pesquisa teve uma abordagem quali-quantitativa, método descritivo e exploratório e por duas formas de coleta, pesquisa bibliográfica e estudo de caso. De um modo geral, os estudos realizados obtiveram resultados satisfatórios e confiáveis em todos os objetivos abordados, como, no dimensionamento das áreas dos painéis, levantamentos de dados de irradiação do local ao longo do ano, quantificação de demandas energéticas na instituição como um todo e do bloco D, além da composição orçamentária de modo sucinto de todo o sistema de geração de energia fotovoltaica. Portanto, após todas as análises e projeções, foram atendidas as expectativas econômicas a longo prazo, ou seja, com a recuperação em 14,08 anos de todo o valor inicial do investimento realizado.This work aims to analyze the economic feasibility of implementing a photovoltaic energy system for block D of the Centro Universitário de Brusque - UNIFEBE. The research had a qualitative and quantitative approach, a descriptive and exploratory method and by two forms of collection, bibliographic research and case study. In general, the studies carried out obtained satisfactory and reliable results in all the addressed objectives, such as, in the dimensioning of the panels areas, surveys of irradiation data of the place throughout the year, quantification of energy demands in the institution as a whole and block D, in addition to the budgetary composition of the entire photovoltaic energy generation system. Therefore, after all the analyzes and projections, long-term economic expectations were met, that is, with the recovery in 14.08 years of the entire initial value of the investment made

Quenching-induced circumvention of integrated aging effect of relaxor lead lanthanum zirconate titanate and (Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3-BaTiO3

The effect of quenching on the dielectric properties of ceramic Pb0.92La0.08(Zr0.65Ti0.35)(0.98)O-3 (PLZT 8/65/35) and (Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3-6 mol. %BaTiO3 (BNT-6BT) was investigated after annealing at a wide range of temperatures. The dielectric permittivity showed that the magnitude and shape profile of the permittivity were significantly affected by the quenching process in comparison to furnace-cooled specimens. We propose that the changes originate from a circumvention of integrated aging that takes place during cooling process. A comparison between PLZT 8/65/35 and BNT-6BT allowed us to conclude that two different types of polar nanoregions exist in BNT-6BT and the transition between them peaks at around 300 degrees C.open3

Frequency and temperature dependence of actuating performance of Bi1/2Na1/2TiO3-BaTiO3 based relaxor/ferroelectric composites

Recently, composites of relaxors (matrix) and either ferroelectric or nonergodic relaxor (seed) were proposed as a solution to resolving one of the main drawbacks of incipient piezoceramics, namely the requirement for high driving electric fields. In this study, we investigate the temperature and frequency dependence of the actuating performance of Bi1/2Na1/2TiO3-BaTiO3-based composites. Apart from the reduction of driving field, the composite architecture offers an extra degree of freedom for tailoring the temperature stability for different operational conditions for actuators. High strain values appear to be sensitive especially to driving frequency. This is originated by the time-dependent process of the coalescence of polar nanoregions. In effect, proximity of driving field and poling field leads to high strain sensitivity. Hence, the driving electric field needs to be adjusted in order to meet the desired frequency specifications for given applications.open0

2015-16 Antarctic Travel Project data set

During the 2015-2016 season, links to an internet survey were distributed to Antarctic travelers traveling with two different tour companies with expedition ships leaving from Ushuaia, Argentina, A paper brochure was placed in the expedition ship cabins of tourists before their arrival, and expedition staff gave reminders to complete them. 175 travelers, largely from two ships, completed this internet survey through Qualtrics. Tourists received links to the survey from expedition leaders who volunteered to distribute paper explanations of the survey with the link, including one author of the study (Roedel). This document gives the questions from the Qualtrics survey and the compiled results. Individual responses are not provided in order to preserve confidentiality. Some of the survey questions were taken from other, larger surveys in the hopes of producing comparable data. Those surveys, and their corresponding questions, are indicated in the Block Titles. Responses were collected between December 21, 2015 and March 8, 2016, a timeframe that corresponds to the Antarctic tourism season

Constructing 'Buddhism': A Comparative Analysis of Buddhist Group Narratives in Scotland

This thesis examines some mechanisms underpinning the construction of the public discourse on Buddhism in Scotland in general and Buddhist group narratives about Buddhism in particular.Chapter 1 introduces the object of study as well as research questions and describes the methodology applied, which is grounded in a study-of-religions (Religionswissenschaft) perspective.Chapter 2 discusses some theoretical accounts in the study of Buddhism(s) and investigates the creation of an ontologised category Buddhism as a scholarly object within the 'world religions' paradigm. It furthermore argues for the study of 'Buddhism' to focus on the actual human agents involved as well as on historico-regional aspects of the framework within which a discourse on Buddhism is constructed.Chapter 3 provides a historical contextualisation of Buddhist groups in Scotland and examines the construction of 'Buddhism' within a selection of three Buddhist groups located in Scotland. These are the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order, the community around Karma Kagyü Samyé Ling, and the Thai-Scottish Association around Wat Dhammapadipa.Chapter 4 concludes the study and provides a comparison of the Buddhism discourses constructed in these three groups. It also highlights general rules underpinning the public discourse on Buddhism in Scotland and locates this discourse in the wider field of the concept of the 'European history of religions' (Europäische Religionsgeschichte)

Cyclic Fatigue Crack Growth In PZT Piezoelectric Ceramics Induced By Mechanical Load

In this work the crack propagation behaviour of a commercially obtained lead zirconate titanate (PZT) piezoceramic is studied under monotonic and cyclic loading. Piezoelectric ceramics contain an electrical dipole in their crystal structure such that when a mechanical load is applied an electrical potential is formed, and vice versa. Permanent electrical domain orientation may be induced by the application of a large electrical potential in a process known as poling. Piezoelectric ceramics are used for applications such as actuators, sonar transducers and microphones. These and most other application involve high levels of cyclic loading and fatigue degradation is will known. However, cyclic fatigue to date has only been considered under electrical loading despite the fact that most components are subjected to high levels of mechanical load. Crack growth studies are rare. In the vicinity of a crack tip, local stress causes switching of the crystal domains leading to dilation perpendicular to the crack propagation direction. This explains the observed crack growth resistance (R-curve) toughening which is characterised in this work. Furthermore, it is shown that the extent of toughening is dependent upon the crack propagation direction relative to the poling direction. When a cyclic mechanical load is applied, subcritical crack growth is shown to occur below the plateau value of the R-curve and at rates which are independent of poling direction. A measurement of static fatigue rates show that a true cyclic fatigue degradation process exists. Another experiment which measured the R-curve behaviour as a function of intermittent loading time showed that the observed fatigue behaviour could not be explained by reverse switching of the crystal domains. The question arises therefore as to the mechanism of cyclic fatigue degradation in PZT and whether it is the same under both cyclic electrical and mechanical loading. In both cases it is currently unknown however a parallel study has shown that plastic strain accumulates in bulk PZT under mechanical loading in a strain-softening type process. The link between this and crack propagation behaviour will be discussed